Re-Evolution ?

[Tramadolian]

i was watching this program about AIDS and how the virus evolved and became resistant to all the drugs the patient used . the doctor took the patient off drugs for a few months and the virus returned to its "wild" form , because that form was the most successful in the drug free environment . so my question is would this happen in other cases ? for example if humans were removed from earth , would north american dogs , given enough time , re-evolve into wolves ?

[JackBean]

Why north american? Do you think, that in Europe or Asia are not dogs? Or Wolfs?

Well, they probably wouldn't evolved into exact copies of wolves, but certainly into something higly similar to wolves, something, what is well specialized for life in wild and stuff

[biohazard]

It could be possible that something bit different would emerge: dogs are nowadays much better suited for omnivorous diets and thus the pressure to start hunting like wolves might be smaller. Also, small dog breeds like terriers might be succesful in hunting small prey like rats and rabbits etc, thus retaining their small frame.

However, the dogs that would end up in similar environments than where wolves live would probably evolve towards a wolf-like form (if they just survived the competiton caused by real wolves!).

[Tramadolian]

Why north american? Do you think, that in Europe or Asia are not dogs? Or Wolfs?

Well, they probably wouldn't evolved into exact copies of wolves, but certainly into something higly similar to wolves, something, what is well specialized for life in wild and stuff

are you trying to be a jerk ? it was just a scenario

[JackBean]

No, I was showing, that you are jerk

[JackBean]

Also, small dog breeds like terriers might be succesful in hunting small prey like rats and rabbits etc, thus retaining their small frame.

That's definitely true. They would probably develop into something like fox, because the pressure to grow up (if there already were big dogs/wolves) would be more like negative